[network/open] Let's Review

[aelwyn_aberration]

Who: Aelwyn Abernant & Open
Username: Aberration
Warnings: Discussions of the last event, misogynistic language.



Something is bugging me (no pun intended) about last month's Monster of the Week, and I wanted to perhaps have a discussion about it.

Ren Morimoto dies late november of a parasitic infection supposedly originating from the Dominican Republic. She claims our dear friend Tim apparently also known as Jim is to blame for the whole ordeal and that she wanted to thank him. I don't know the truth of that, Timothy is free to comment.

She mentions that the insects told her that Tim's whole scheme has to be a set up to a grand ritual with a variety of sacrifices, and apparently that's what that entire hostage situation was about. But before that she sends us a present in the form of a parasytic smart phone app that apparently showed up randomly on Pam's TikTok. The game is almost impossible to resist once you start playing, and it starts changing you into your worst possible self to keep the competition running.

And then we have the whole warehouse encounter, which I think largely speaks for itself.

But it's fascinating because even though she's so clearly in bed with the Corruption, that doesn't seem to track with all of the abilities on display here. This, to me, reeks of Web influence. Someone wanted to stop the viral TikTok trend in it's tracks, and they puppetted this stupid bitch to make it all happen.

Thoughts?

Comments

[abrightboy]

That’s a lot to unpack. What do you mean Jim is Tim. Tim who?

[aelwyn_aberration]

Do we know another Tim? He fessed up to the whole thing if this is some attempt at covering for him.

un: freakscene

[cacophonish]

hey what happened with that psycho isn't tim's fault

[ But... it is a good theory. ]

what's the web's deal again?

[abrightboy]

I've been kind of indisposed. [Moldy and then hiding from the shame of his mold-induced behaviour, as a matter of fact.] When did he confess? Where? In public?

[aelwyn_aberration]

This seems like a conversation you should probably have with him instead, but sure. He confessed while all the Ren stuff started happening, I think out of guilt.

[aelwyn_aberration]

I actually agree completely, but the whole thing's so blatantly engineered to make him feel like it is. It's why people take hostages in the first place.

Manipulation and control. You know, the mastermind types. Apparently they have a tendency to meddle in the affairs of the entire paranormal community at large.

[abrightboy]

So you think the Entities are behind the violence that ensued?

[aelwyn_aberration]

Well, yeah but on the surface it looks like it's the Corruption. You know, diseases and stuff, Ren seems like a pretty textbook Corruption avatar. But that bitch could maybe plan her way out of a plastic bag if she was lucky.

Someone else is pulling the strings.

[abrightboy]

One of the other Entities. Is it possible to be beholden to more than one of them?

[aelwyn_aberration]

I've wondered about that. In my world selling your soul to two different powers is ridiculous, but I don't know the rules here entirely.

But there's a few of us who arrived touched by one of the powers, I can't imagine it would be impossible for one of us to completely circumvent that and become an avatar of a completely different entity. Still, I don't know if she was touched by the Web herself or if another avatar used her as a particularly repulsive sock puppet.

[abrightboy]

Do you think it's possible to stop someone from going all the way down that road once they start?

[cacophonish]

man... that's a good point

that makes sense i mean that Ren chick definitely seemed more like a bunny boiler than an evil genius

hey didn't the little nightmare girl mention someone inviting her to town?

[ IS IT ALL CONNECTED ]

[aelwyn_aberration]

We're really bouncing between topics today, aren't we?

[Now, does he mean Kate, Jeff or someone else... Or Ren. Ren will probably inevitably become an avatar now that he's been released into the wild.]

But yes, I think it is. There's definitely a point of no return. Even then, I think immediately giving up on them is just going to push them further into the arms of the dread powers.

Jon used addiction as a metaphor. I thought that was quite apt.

[aelwyn_aberration]

She sure did.

And the kelpies didn't originate from this area, they were transported.

[abrightboy]

They feel that their magic is part of them. That being told using it is an addiction is like being told using your hand is an addiction or using your eyes is an addiction. So how do we convince them to stop?

not here

[cacophonish]

[ WOW HEY HE RESEMBLES THAT REMARK. ]

not here

[abrightboy]

[IT SHOULD; THAT'S WHERE HE LEARNED IT.

He's trying to save you, you tool.]

[aelwyn_aberration]

[Why is she giving advice about this, she's halfway to becoming an avatar herself.]

I mean, they're not wrong.

The ADI's approach to this is pathetically incompetent. The thing about real addiction is that just saying "Don't do drugs!" is not going to convince someone who has been living off of pot brownies or cocaine their entire life with no issues. Nor is it going to convince anyone, really.

I don't know how to convince someone to not use magic, because I'll be entirely honest I don't think it's as simple as they're making it out to be. But I think what's important is to hold them accountable to the things they do, and the way their mentality might shift. If using their powers starts to make them lose track of who they are and what they believe is right or wrong, then that warrants intervention. [See, Ren, she did learn something from your stupid condescending bullshit.]

[cacophonish]

wait ok so is it like... is this web asshole trying to get one of the other avatars to start the apocalypse

OR

is he trying to get the others on the ADI's radar so they take out the competition???

shit

what if "mr s" is actually MRS and we should be looking for a chick!

WHAT IF NIA LEHRER IS "MRS"

[ if Jeff was ever onto something, he's definitely lost track of it ]

[abrightboy]

What sort of 'intervention'?

[aelwyn_aberration]

Well, I'm not suggesting killing them, to be clear. [Or him. She knows this is about Jeff now because Jeff said the same thing to her.]

I don't have the answers but try getting through to them verbally and getting them to rethink their actions. Maybe make them keep a diary? [She keeps a diary, to keep track of her thought processes to ensure she's not slipping. She's outsmarting the entities, she's got this.] And if that doesn't work and they start committing actual atrocities then it's probably a good idea to start using more drastic measures like imprisoning them or something.

[abrightboy]

The lady at ADI did suggest killing them. Is the thing. So if we're going to intervene with the intention to help them, we may also be staving off other people from ADI. Something to bear in mind.

[not here]

[apocalypsehownpcs]

[Taking a big sip of something alcoholic somewhere. Yep.]

un: cupkate

[bossyboiler]

If you think it's more than one Entity, what makes you think that it's just one person?

[ Has she been dropping some eaves? Absolutely! ]

[aelwyn_aberration]

[She was almost proud of him, then he reminded her that she doesn't keep him around for his brains.]

That's a bit of a sexist assumption.

Just because the culprit might be a woman it's automatically this one woman you just so happen to know? You're on the wrong side of history, Calhoun.

I don't think it's any of the above, to be honest. ADI is certainly at the center of whatever their intentions are, though.

[aelwyn_aberration]

I don't. As stated, Ren couldn't have done this herself, so that's immediately more than one person.

Whatever prompted her could definitely be either an individual or a group, though.

[aelwyn_aberration]

Well, as good employees we will naturally follow orders and defer to our elders.

But I don't think we'd even be allowed to help manage one of our own, it's too much of a conflicting interest.

[abrightboy]

Who was talking about what we'd be 'allowed' to do?

[cacophonish]

fuck. really?

i didn't mean to be a sexist dick. i guess i got carried away feeling like a real detective solving a mystery

[ SIGH. Now he has some reflecting and unpacking to do... ]

so what do you think it is?

[bossyboiler]

[ WHAT?! ]

That seems extreme.

[aelwyn_aberration]

Ha. Fair enough.

[She agrees but she's not going to say it on the network.]

[aelwyn_aberration]

So long as you've learnt your lesson.

I don't actually know, but I imagine it's connected to our arrival here. Perhaps a ritual of their own.

[abrightboy]

Maybe you should listen to me then. I'm trying to save you.

[bossyboiler]

[ . . . Did he just out her? In public? She can't be the only one eavesdropping! ]

Malcolm.

[ >__< ]

[abrightboy]

[She was the one who butted in.]

[bossyboiler]

[ ALL SHE SAID WAS THAT IT WAS EXTREME! SHE DIDN'T DROP ANY NAMES! ]

. . .

[aelwyn_aberration]

[She won't say anything but she's on your side here, Kate.

At least he's not telling you that he has faith that you can become a "better person who sees things differently."]

[bossyboiler]

Maybe we should have another private get-together.

[aelwyn_aberration]

Be my guest if you want to organize one.

[bossyboiler]

I don't think I'd be suited for it. I'm not very good at investigations.

[ Which is something of an understatement. ]

[aelwyn_aberration]

I guess I can see about organizing something.

[bossyboiler]

If you think it's a good idea. I don't know. I wish I was more helpful.

[aelwyn_aberration]

Don't worry, you'll have your time to shine.

[We'll make use of you yet, Kate.]

[bossyboiler]

Should I be worried by that comment?

[aelwyn_aberration]

That's up to you, sweetie. <3

But no, there's no hidden meaning behind it, don't worry.

[bossyboiler]

I've been good. I think I deserve a little bit of danger. :p

[the_archivist]

It makes sense that one power would want to sabotage another's ritual. The Web seems like it would be the perfect candidate to try to pull off such a thing. I don't think it's completely off the cards that the Web was... arranging matters to its benefit.